One of the things we enjoy about restoration and conservation is that sometimes you come into an artifact that is sad and forlorn; whether it be due to damage, humility, or other reasons, there is no reason to conserve it, and it just isn’t sensible to do a full restoration. However, that doesn’t mean that […]
We’re Moving…
We are migrating our website to new servers, in an attempt to avoid irritating creeping slowness. So, if things look a bit strange, or completely inside out, over the next week or so, we apologize in advance. The end results will be worth it! update All of our files and postings have been successfully moved […]
Breakdown of a 1946 Yard-o-Led Pencil
We recently had a batch of vintage Yard-o-led propelling pencils sent to us for repair and restoration. One in particular was such an excellent example of what makes these pencils so outstanding that we thought we would share it with all of you. Since Samson Mordan patented the first helically-driven propelling pencil in 1832, not […]
Esterbrook Nibs Advertisment
From the mid-1940s to the 60s, Esterbrook produced a huge number of their iconic “J” series of fountain pens. While Parker and Scheaffer fought for supremacy in the high-end pen world, Esterbrook made one of the most acute marketing moves of the day: take the leftovers. All of them. The result was a series of […]
Waterman’s “Ideal” Fountain Pen Ephemera
Ephemera—the various pieces of paper that are a part of everyday life—are, by definition, disposable. In many cases (thinking of my shopping lists), that is no great loss. However, there are times when it would be more than just idle curiosity to see what is on those old papers. Being the sharing types, when we […]
On Hide Glue
With the sheer number of adhesives peering at us from every hardware store’s shelves, it is hard to believe that most glues seen on antiques fall into only one category: animal. Hide glues were used extensively, and almost exclusively, until the mid-twentieth century, when aliphatic resin glues were developed. Even today, with a plethora of […]
